Police, community and calendar briefs for July 15, 2013

Published: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 10:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

REDDICK — An ex-employee allegedly seen on video taking money from a convenience store in order to pay his electric bill was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on Friday, according to officials.

The store clerk at The Citgo gas station at 18024 N. U.S. 441 told Deputy Michelle Wright he went to the back of the building to turn on the outside lights when he heard a noise coming from the front.

Walking toward the front, the employee said he saw John Robert Barnes, a former employee, crouched by the front door and front counter.

Barnes stood up, told the clerk he was sorry and to call the police and he ran south across County Road 318, the clerk told deputies.

Entering the store and going behind the counter, the employee said he noticed a drawer where money is usually kept was missing. The employee couldn’t call deputies because the telephone wires had been ripped from the building. He ended up calling deputies from his cellphone.

Several units, including a K-9 deputy and a helicopter, responded to the scene and Barnes surrendered to authorities, deputies said. Barnes, who exited from the woods, told officials he had buried the money.

Transported back to the store, Barnes told the store clerk he was sorry but that he needed the money.

Surveillance video showed Barnes entering the store, removing the cash from the drawer, grabbing a pack of cigarettes and exiting the building.

Though he refused to talk with deputies, he uttered, “I needed the money to pay my electric bill” and the clerk “wouldn’t help me out,” authorities said.

Barnes was taken to the Marion County Jail and charged with grand theft, criminal mischief and tampering with evidence.

Community

Senior Services announces menu

The following meals will be provided by Marion Senior Services, 1101 SW 20th Court, Ocala. Lunches will be delivered by Meals on Wheels; dinners will be provided at Marion Senior Services. For more information, call 620-3501.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Resource Management awarded $393,459,151 from the Department’s State Revolving Fund programs to fund local projects in fiscal year 2012/2013. The loans help local governments fund improvements to wastewater, stormwater and drinking water facilities.

The division also provides financial assistance through the Small Community Wastewater Construction Grants Program for projects to rehabilitate and upgrade existing facilities, eliminate septic tanks and expand reclaimed water systems.

This past fiscal year, the grant program provided $632,437 to the city of Dunnellon, which will result in abandonment of a non-compliant wastewater treatment plant on the Rainbow River. The wastewater collected in the system will be sent to another wastewater facility that is meeting standards.

For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/.

Library Express volunteers sought

The Marion County Public Library System - Children’s Services Division is recruiting volunteers for its Library Express program, which places trained volunteers in Head Start Classrooms throughout Marion County during the school year.

Volunteers will read to children using materials provided by library staff. The minimum commitment is one hour per month from September through May.

Training and orientation will be provided for candidates who clear background screening.

For more information, call Jenny Ransone at 671-8551 or email Karen.jensen@marioncountyfl.org.

Guardian ad Litem volunteers needed

Guardian ad Litem program volunteers work with more than 1,600 children in Marion, Hernando, Lake, Sumter and Citrus counties who have been removed from homes for alleged abuse, abandonment or neglect and are part of a dependency court proceeding.

A guardian is appointed by the court to advocate for a child and works as part of a team with a supervisor and program attorney.

There is a shortage of volunteers. Volunteers must be 21 or older and pass a background check.

<p>POLICE BEAT</p><p><strong>Ex-employee of gas station arrested</strong></p><p>REDDICK — An ex-employee allegedly seen on video taking money from a convenience store in order to pay his electric bill was arrested by sheriff's deputies on Friday, according to officials.</p><p>The store clerk at The Citgo gas station at 18024 N. U.S. 441 told Deputy Michelle Wright he went to the back of the building to turn on the outside lights when he heard a noise coming from the front.</p><p>Walking toward the front, the employee said he saw John Robert Barnes, a former employee, crouched by the front door and front counter.</p><p>Barnes stood up, told the clerk he was sorry and to call the police and he ran south across County Road 318, the clerk told deputies.</p><p>Entering the store and going behind the counter, the employee said he noticed a drawer where money is usually kept was missing. The employee couldn't call deputies because the telephone wires had been ripped from the building. He ended up calling deputies from his cellphone.</p><p>Several units, including a K-9 deputy and a helicopter, responded to the scene and Barnes surrendered to authorities, deputies said. Barnes, who exited from the woods, told officials he had buried the money.</p><p>Transported back to the store, Barnes told the store clerk he was sorry but that he needed the money.</p><p>Surveillance video showed Barnes entering the store, removing the cash from the drawer, grabbing a pack of cigarettes and exiting the building.</p><p>Though he refused to talk with deputies, he uttered, “I needed the money to pay my electric bill” and the clerk “wouldn't help me out,” authorities said.</p><p>Barnes was taken to the Marion County Jail and charged with grand theft, criminal mischief and tampering with evidence.</p><p> </p><p>Community</p><p><strong>Senior Services announces menu</strong></p><p>The following meals will be provided by Marion Senior Services, 1101 SW 20th Court, Ocala. Lunches will be delivered by Meals on Wheels; dinners will be provided at Marion Senior Services. For more information, call 620-3501.</p><p><ul><li>Today: Chunky barbecue chicken with wheat bun, lyonnaise potatoes, Califorina blended vegetables, sugar cookie and low-fat milk.</li></p><p> <li>Tuesday: Macaroni and cheese with turkey ham, green peas, parslied carrots, rye bread, peaches and low-fat milk.</li></p><p> <li>Wednesday: Lemon pepper baked chicken breast, potatoes au gratin, mixed vegetables, rye bread, apple juice, graham crackers and low-fat milk.</li></p><p> <li>Thursday: Pork riblet with barbecue sauce and bun, baked beans, yellow corn, mixed fruit and low-fat milk.</li></p><p> <li>Friday: Chef salad, French dressing, carrot-raisin salad, whole grain bread, mixed fruit and low-fat milk.</li></ul></p><p><strong>Grant awarded for Dunnellon project</strong></p><p>The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water Resource Management awarded $393,459,151 from the Department's State Revolving Fund programs to fund local projects in fiscal year 2012/2013. The loans help local governments fund improvements to wastewater, stormwater and drinking water facilities.</p><p>The division also provides financial assistance through the Small Community Wastewater Construction Grants Program for projects to rehabilitate and upgrade existing facilities, eliminate septic tanks and expand reclaimed water systems.</p><p>This past fiscal year, the grant program provided $632,437 to the city of Dunnellon, which will result in abandonment of a non-compliant wastewater treatment plant on the Rainbow River. The wastewater collected in the system will be sent to another wastewater facility that is meeting standards.</p><p>For more information, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/.</p><p><strong>Library Express volunteers sought</strong></p><p>The Marion County Public Library System - Children's Services Division is recruiting volunteers for its Library Express program, which places trained volunteers in Head Start Classrooms throughout Marion County during the school year.</p><p>Volunteers will read to children using materials provided by library staff. The minimum commitment is one hour per month from September through May.</p><p>Training and orientation will be provided for candidates who clear background screening.</p><p>For more information, call Jenny Ransone at 671-8551 or email Karen.jensen@marioncountyfl.org.</p><p><strong>Guardian ad Litem volunteers needed</strong></p><p>Guardian ad Litem program volunteers work with more than 1,600 children in Marion, Hernando, Lake, Sumter and Citrus counties who have been removed from homes for alleged abuse, abandonment or neglect and are part of a dependency court proceeding.</p><p>A guardian is appointed by the court to advocate for a child and works as part of a team with a supervisor and program attorney.</p><p>There is a shortage of volunteers. Volunteers must be 21 or older and pass a background check.</p><p>The next training session begins on Aug. 5 in Ocala.</p><p>To learn more, call 274-5231 or email Lynn.Sennett@gal.fl.gov.</p>